Weddings in India will generate Rs 6.5 lakh crore business from 46 lakh weddings in the first set of auspicious dates from November 1 to December 14 this year, as estimated by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Delhi alone will generate Rs 1.8 lakh crore from 4.8 lakh weddings.
“While the total number of weddings is nearly similar to last year in the same time period, spending per wedding has increased significantly, reflecting higher disposable incomes, inflation in gold and silver prices, and rising consumer confidence after a record-breaking festive season,” said CAIT secretary general and Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal.
In 2024, 48 lakh weddings took place with an expenditure of Rs 5.9 lakh crore. In 2023, 38 lakh weddings were solemnised with Rs 4.74 lakh crore and in 2022, 32 lakh weddings took place with Rs 3.75 lakh crore expenditure in the same time frame.
Khandelwal added that the mood this season is definitely swadeshi and ‘Vocal for Local’ will dominate, be it destination or décor. CAIT’s study across 75 major Indian cities also highlights a noticeable shift toward Indian-made goods, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Wed in India’ call last year to encourage Indian couples, particularly the wealthy, to host their destination weddings in India. Over 70% of wedding-related purchases are now domestic products, ranging from apparel and jewellery to decor and catering supplies. Traditional artisans, handicraft producers, jewellers, and textile units are also witnessing record orders for the wedding season.
Rajasthan’s heritage venues remain in top demand, where hotel bookings for weddings now contribute 20-30% of revenues during peak season with average cost of a wedding ranging between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 90 lakh. With luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’ available for destination weddings since last year, the state is even more attractive. For wedding media company WeddingSutra CEO Parthip Thyagarajan, the trend of ‘slim and smart’ weddings, intimate celebrations with 75-200 guests allow for greater personalisation and creativity. He pointed out that there is more demand for skilled local vendors serving at destination wedding hotspots, from Dehradun to Udaipur, allowing couples to reduce travel costs while securing high-quality services.
“Interestingly, about 10% of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) opt for destination weddings, of which only 10-15% are choosing international venues. The rest are domestic, hence a clear indicator of the swadeshi shift,” said Thyagarajan.
Besides Rajasthan’s palaces and Goa’s resorts, cooler climes of Wayanad, Coorg, Rishikesh, Solan and Shillong are newer venues, as per Thomas Cook (India). Rajeev Kale, president & country head, holidays, MICE, visa – Thomas Cook (India), said, “Wedding celebrations often double as mini-vacations with pre-wedding bachelor/ bachelorette parties thrown in.”
Visual discovery platform Pinterest searches related to desi wedding elements have skyrocketed. ‘Desi wedding decor’ has seen a 1,825% increase, while interest in cultural specifics like dulha haldi surged over last year (+1,473%). In terms of décor, there’s a renewed love for Indian craftsmanship, textiles, and artistry. As per Damini Oberoi, founder of luxury wedding planner Q Events & Weddings, “From hand-embroidered textiles, zari work, and block-printed fabrics in décor, to traditional weaving techniques being used for table linens, and artisanal ceramics, brassware, and cane for styling, there’s a strong shift toward authentic, handmade, and locally sourced elements in weddings this time.
The florals have taken a turn toward Indian botanicals like mogra, marigold, champa, and lotus. Stationery, invites, and trousseau packaging use indigenous craft techniques like hand block printing, gota patti, and kalamkari, often made by small rural artisans. This not only elevates design but also contributes to preserving these art forms. So, it’s not just about hosting a wedding in India, it’s about designing it with India at its heart,” said Oberoi.
Destination weddings in India are booming due to the hospitality industry’s rapid evolution. “Wedding infrastructure in India has transformed in the last few years. The planner’s role today is to channel that desi energy, make it look chic, modern, and global, yet keep the emotion intact,” said Dakshita Bhatla Gangola, founder of DB and Spaces, a wedding planning & decor company.
“One can plan a palace wedding in Rajasthan, a mountain wedding in Mussourie, a forest wedding in Corbett, or a beach wedding in Goa. Even the tourism boards are encouraging state-level wedding promotion, better roads, improved flight connectivity, and easy permissions. So why spend double on flights to go abroad when they can experience the same luxury and service right here at home, with the warmth that only India brings,” added Gangola.